Skyview Networks has announced its President and CEO, Steve Jones, has purchased the company.
Steve Jones informed company employees of the move on Wednesday, stating that the leadership team will continue to operate the company.
Jones takes over the organization founded 30 years ago by Ken Thiele.
“First and foremost, I want to thank you all,” said Thiele. “Skyview Networks exists, and is respected across the industry, because of the talent, grit and customer commitment each of you bring every day. Since joining Skyview Networks, Steve has expanded our business portfolio and led with a steady focus on growth and stability. It is with this confidence in leadership that Skyview’s trajectory and momentum continues.”
In his statement to employees, Jones shared his gratitude for Thiele’s stewardship. He also thanked shareholders Diana Chamberlain and Dave Dickinson for their support in the acquisition process.
“On a personal note, I am proud of the team that has built and sustained Skyview Networks’ reputation across the industry,” Jones wrote. “This company is special because of you. Serving as the leader of Skyview Networks is a responsibility I take seriously, and I am committed to continue leading with transparency, respect and a long‑term focus on our people and business.”
Steve Jones joined Skyview Networks in 2019. He previously served as the Vice President and General Manager of ABC Radio for The Walt Disney Company. He originally joined ABC News in 1986.
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77 WABC is expanding its weekend programming, as Fernando Mateo is adding a weekend show to the New York news/talk station’s lineup.
Mateo is a familiar voice to New York radio listeners. He previously was a mayoral candidate in the city. Additionally, he’s the co-founder and spokesman for the United Bodegas of America, and the chairman of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers.
“There are 65 million Hispanics in the U.S. and New York City is home to nearly three million of this fast-growing population,” said 77 WABC and Red Apple Media owner John Catsimatidis. “When you factor in all of New York State, as well as our four neighboring states, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, it’s close to ten million Hispanics. With Mateo as part of our on-air lineup, we can super serve the needs and interests of the Hispanic community.”
Beginning on Sunday, he’ll launch No Excuses with Fernando Mateo. The show will air at 6 PM ET. According to the station, Mateo’s show will feature listener calls and interviews with community leaders.
“WABC is the most powerful talk radio station in America, and it’s an honor to join a place that isn’t afraid to tell the truth,” said Mateo. “No Excuses is exactly what this show stands for: accountability, action, and results. This program will be about real issues, real people, and real solutions, from the New York streets to the halls of government. I am bringing the voices of working New Yorkers directly to the airwaves.”
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The Colorado Rockies appear to have found their next voice in the radio booth. Zach Goodman, the son of longtime Denver broadcaster Drew Goodman, will join Jack Corrigan on KOA Radio broadcasts for the 2026 season.
Goodman recently completed a three-game audition during spring training, one of several candidates evaluated by the station. Following the announcement, Goodman shared his gratitude publicly.
“All glory to God! I’m so thankful to KOA Radio for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream,” Goodman said. “I’m blessed with the best family and friends in the world, whom I love so much. Rockies baseball is in my blood, and I can’t wait to experience every pitch with all of you!”
Initially, the team’s plan for 2026 remained unclear whether Corrigan would handle games solo or if the station would pursue a familiar option. Instead, KOA opted for an open audition process during spring training. Multiple candidates rotated alongside Corrigan, each receiving a small sample of games to showcase their style, chemistry and command of the broadcast.
Goodmann has worked the last two seasons as the lead broadcaster for the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Double-A, Arizona Diamondbacks). He will make his debut in the booth this Saturday as the Rockies host the Philadelphia Phillies.
The radio booth vacancy after a notable change to the Rockies’ radio team. At the conclusion of the 2025 season, veteran broadcaster Jerry Schemmel was informed he would not return to the booth. The move marked the second time Schemmel has been laid off by iHeartRadio in the past six years.
All glory to God! I’m so thankful to @KOAColorado for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream. I’m blessed with the best family and friends in the world, whom I love so much. Rockies baseball is in my blood, and I can’t wait to experience every pitch with all of you! https://t.co/XmzAe5hi5n
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The Daily Wire has announced it has reached a settlement with the State Department and other entities from a 2023 lawsuit over censorship concerns.
The Daily Wire and The Federalist sued after the Global Engagement Center funded and promoted companies, while the conservative digital outlet argued that it was frozen out for being deemed “disinformation.”
“Today marks an important day for preserving free speech in the digital era,” said Daily Wire CEO Caleb Robinson. “The U.S. government has acknowledged its censorship structures under the Biden administration, and will now be subject to limitations on similar behavior in the future.”
The New Civil Liberties Alliance represented The Daily Wire in the case. That organization helped demonstrate how the GEC was used by the Biden administration to target news outlets.
“We’re grateful to NCLA for representing us, and I also appreciate our co-plaintiffs’ efforts in this landmark case,” Robinson said. “We’re proud to join them in the fight for freedom.”
Financial details of the settlement weren’t released by the company.
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ESPN is adding a fresh layer to its coverage of the Women’s Final Four with the debut of a new alt-cast designed to bring viewers closer to the action. The network announced that Courtside at the Women’s Final Four will air during both national semifinal games on Friday, April 3 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, followed by the national championship on Sunday, April 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Hosted by Jess Sims, the broadcast will feature a mix of athletes and digital personalities seated courtside. The goal is to capture the energy inside the arena while offering a more conversational viewing experience.
Among the headliners is Ilona Maher, who will appear during both semifinal games and the championship. Maher said she is eager to help spotlight women’s sports on a major stage while adding a fun, fan-driven element to the coverage.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining ESPN’s Courtside in its first year,” said Maher. “As a champion of women’s sports, I cannot wait to be part of ESPN’s presentation of women’s basketball on the biggest stage.”
Sims brings familiarity with the college game to the role. She has worked high-profile matchups as a sideline reporter and contributes regularly to College GameDay. Her experience storytelling around athletes and programs made her a natural choice to anchor the broadcast.
The semifinal shows will also include analysis from WNBA players Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams. Known collectively as the StudBudz, the longtime friends have built a strong following through their digital content and candid personalities.
Both players said the opportunity to share their perspective on a national platform stands out. They also emphasized the unique feel of being stationed courtside, where reactions and emotions unfold in real time.
For Sunday’s championship, ESPN will add another accomplished voice. Chelsea Gray is set to join the broadcast as a guest analyst. Gray brings championship experience and a deep understanding of high-pressure moments, having won multiple WNBA titles and Olympic gold medals.
In addition to game analysis, the alt-cast will lean into fan interaction. ESPN content creator Katie Feeney will contribute with roaming interviews and reactions from inside the arena.
ESPN senior vice president of production Meg Aronowitz said the network aims to create a more immersive and authentic presentation. By positioning talent courtside, the broadcast intends to blend insight with personality while reflecting the atmosphere of the event.
The '26 #NCAAWBB#WFinalFour & National Championship alt. casts are no joke 👏
'ESPN Courtside' w/Jess Sims, Ilona Maher, Natisha Hiedeman, Courtney Williams, Chelsea Gray, Katie Feeney & more
🏀 Fri | 7 & 9:30p ET | ESPN2 🏆 Sun | 3:30p ET | ESPN
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SiriusXM will once again deliver extensive audio coverage of the Masters Tournament, adding new voices and exclusive content for listeners throughout tournament week at Augusta National Golf Club. The company announced its full programming lineup for April 6-12, featuring live broadcasts, on-course reporting and original interviews tied to one of golf’s most iconic events.
Coverage will air daily from April 9-12 beginning at 2 p.m. ET and continue through the conclusion of play.
Among the key additions is four-time PGA Tour winner Kevin Kisner, who joins SiriusXM as a lead analyst for weekend rounds. Kisner will work alongside play-by-play voice Taylor Zarzour on Saturday and Sunday broadcasts.
Kisner, a South Carolina native who grew up near Augusta, brings both local ties and competitive experience to the role. He has played in eight Masters Tournaments, including a top-25 finish in 2019.
“Having grown up near Augusta on the Georgia/South Carolina state line, and then having the great privilege of competing in the Masters, the Tournament is incredibly special to me,” Kisner said. “I genuinely love calling the game… It will be a lot of fun bringing the experience of the Masters to golf fans across North America.”
For the opening rounds, SiriusXM will feature analysts Brad Faxon and Brendon de Jonge. Faxon competed in 12 Masters, recording two top-10 finishes, while de Jonge appeared in the 2014 tournament.
Additionally, the network plans a featured interview during Thursday’s first-round coverage with six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus and his son, Jack II. The conversation will mark the 40th anniversary of Nicklaus’ 1986 victory, widely regarded as one of golf’s most memorable moments.
Veteran broadcasters Emilia Doran, John Maginnes and Brian Katrek will provide on-course commentary throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler is set to join coverage during Saturday’s round.
SiriusXM will also expand its weekday programming with live look-ins on featured groups during morning and early afternoon hours. That coverage will include analysis from Steve Melnyk, Carl Paulson, Drew Stoltz, Gary Williams, George Savaricas and David Marr III.
Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer, said the company aims to deliver a fully immersive experience.
“Each year the Masters is one of the most anticipated events on the sports calendar. Also, each year our team meets the moment,” Greenstein said. “No matter where you’re listening from, our voices will make you feel like you are on the iconic grounds of Augusta National.”
Masters Radio will be available on SiriusXM channel 92 and via the SiriusXM app.
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Gerry Sandusky will soon sign off for the final time at WBAL-TV 11, closing a broadcasting run that has spanned more than four decades in Baltimore. The longtime sports director and radio voice of the Baltimore Ravens announced he will retire, with his final 11 p.m. newscast scheduled for April 17.
“This isn’t a decision I made lightly. I have loved sharing the stories that shape Baltimore sports with viewers, and I have loved every minute of sharing Ravens games with listeners. But the time has come for me to pass those batons and pour more of my attention on my family,” Sandusky said in a statement. “I want to thank every viewer and every listener who shared this journey with me. It’s been an honor. And yes, for my broadcasting career, ‘The hay is in the barn.’ And it feels right.”
Sandusky’s career traces back to Towson University, where he studied before breaking into television in Florida. He landed his first job in 1984 at WSVN-TV in Miami. Four years later, he returned home to Baltimore and joined WBAL-TV as a sports anchor, working alongside veteran broadcaster Vince Bagli.
He rose to sports director in 1993 and expanded his reach again in 2006. That year, Sandusky became the play-by-play voice of the Ravens on radio. Over time, his calls and nightly reports helped define how fans in the region consumed sports.
Sandusky covered several of Baltimore’s most memorable sports moments. His work included the Ravens’ arrival in 1996 and their Super Bowl championships. He also chronicled the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Cal Ripken Jr.’s historic consecutive games streak. In addition, he followed the rise of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, another Maryland native.
As the Ravens’ lead announcer, Sandusky developed a signature style marked by clear delivery and descriptive storytelling. His well-known phrase, “The hay is in the barn,” became synonymous with big moments for the franchise.
WBAL-TV President and General Manager Dan Joerres praised Sandusky’s longevity and impact.
“It’s not often a sports director can claim nearly four decades of service to a single television station,” said Joerres. “Gerry has made significant contributions to WBAL-TV 11 and to the city of Baltimore. He will always be a respected member of our family.”
Ravens President Sashi Brown also highlighted Sandusky’s connection with fans. Brown said the broadcaster’s ability to paint a picture with words elevated the listening experience. He pointed to Sandusky’s consistency during both championship highs and difficult seasons.
His career also includes several honors. Sandusky earned an Emmy Award in 1992 for a report on Memorial Stadium’s future. He won another Emmy in 2003 for a tribute to Johnny Unitas. He also received two Edward R. Murrow Awards and the Sonya Award from the Carson Scholars Fund.
Outside of broadcasting, Sandusky remained active in the community. He coached youth sports and supported his children’s activities. He also founded The Sandusky Group, a company focused on communication training, and authored the memoir Forgotten Sundays.
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Fred Toucher didn’t hold back Wednesday when discussing Pat McAfee, taking aim not only at the host’s style, but also at the audience that embraces it. Speaking on Toucher & Hardy on 98.5 The Sports Hub, while discussing The Pat McAfee Show’s presence at this week’s NFL league meetings, Toucher made it clear his frustration extends beyond McAfee himself.
“Sometimes it’s not the people, it’s the people that like it,” Toucher said. “Are you jealous of Pat McAfee? No, I don’t want to be Pat McAfee. Thank you very much. I’m upset at all of you for liking this [The Pat McAfee Show]. That’s what I’m upset about.”
While McAfee has carved out a prominent role in sports media with a high-energy, personality-driven approach, Toucher questioned the perception that the former NFL punter embodies a rebellious, rule-breaking figure.
“He’s supposed to be this renegade Howard Stern type from like 1992,” Toucher says. “Bucking the man, like this outrageous radio personality. Get the ‘F’ out of here. He says he’s always in trouble and taking it to management. Go ‘F’ yourself. Real dangerous stuff they’re doing over there. Real bad boy.”
Toucher went further, dismissing the idea that McAfee operates without real risk in his current role. He argued that much of the so-called edge associated with McAfee’s show comes with built-in protection rather than genuine defiance.
At the center of Toucher’s critique is the distinction between modern sports media platforms and traditional terrestrial sports radio. The later is one that 98.5 The Sports Hub continues to dominate in the Boston radio market ratings.
McAfee’s show, which airs on ESPN and thrives across digital channels, benefits from fewer restrictions than legacy broadcast outlets. Toucher pointed to language rules as a key example. He noted that swearing, often cited as part of McAfee’s unfiltered appeal, is permitted in certain television and cable environments.
“He has permission to swear,” Toucher said. “It’s not like he’s getting on there and blowing the thing up. You can swear on basic cable. You’ve watched South Park.”
In contrast, Toucher argued that traditional talk radio still requires a level of restraint that would challenge McAfee’s current style. He suggested that true risk in broadcasting comes from operating without a safety net.
“Put your career in jeopardy every day,” Toucher said. “And then we can talk about your fun, rebellious side.”
For Toucher, his critique underscores a belief that not all platforms demand the same level of discipline — or carry the same consequences — for on-air talent. As McAfee’s influence continues to grow, so too does the debate over what defines authenticity in modern sports media.
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A federal judge handed public media a victory Tuesday. But not everyone in the media industry is celebrating.
U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss ruled that President Trump’s executive order ending federal funding for NPR and PBS violated the First Amendment. The White House had accused both networks of being “biased” and fueling “left-wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars.” Judge Moss disagreed — strongly. In a 62-page opinion, he said Trump exceeded his authority and issued a permanent injunction blocking the administration from implementing the order.
The ruling ignited reaction across the media industry. One of the most pointed responses came from Pat Paxton, Senior Vice President of Content at Saga Communications.
Paxton didn’t debate the First Amendment. He focused on the free market.
“The companies I’ve worked for have supported all points of view — liberal, conservative, middle of the road,” Paxton wrote. “We are public and private companies that need to support ourselves. We either turn a profit, or we don’t.”
Commercial broadcasters live and die by ratings and revenue. There’s no safety net. No government backstop. Paxton has spent his career in that world, and knows what it means to compete.
“We deal with the upsides and downslides of the economy,” he added. “In other words, we have to compete in the real world. If we do a good job, we win. If we don’t, we lose, and the consequences are real.”
Paxton isn’t alone in that thinking. His frustration reflected something many in commercial media feel but rarely say out loud. Why does a network — with an identifiable editorial lean in either direction — receive taxpayer subsidies? His colleagues don’t get that luxury.
“My colleagues and competitors don’t get federal funding,” Paxton wrote plainly. “We have to compete in the free market like any other business.”
Many share similar feelings about the competitive imbalance. Trump’s executive order immediately cut millions from the Education Department to PBS for children’s programming, forcing one-third of PBS Kids staff to be laid off. Yet even amid those cuts, both networks have remained on the air, sustained through listener donations and corporate support. Commercial operators don’t have that luxury.
Paxton also raised a separate concern — one about judicial power.
“It’s also crazy and wrong that one judge — one person — gets to decide this,” he said.
The ruling’s practical impact remains limited. Congress already rescinded public media funding last summer, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has dissolved. One judge’s opinion doesn’t restore a single dollar.
The broader debate isn’t really about NPR or PBS. It’s about whether the government should fund any media operation competing in today’s crowded landscape. Trump’s own executive order made that argument directly, noting that “the media landscape is filled with abundant, diverse, and innovative news options” and that government funding of news media is “not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence.”
Paxton’s take lands somewhere similar — just from the perspective of someone who’s competed against publicly subsidized media his entire career. That perspective deserves to be part of the conversation.
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Major League Baseball is bringing back one of its most recognizable properties. The league announced it will revive This Week in Baseball with a modern, digital-first approach designed for today’s audience. The reimagined series, branded as TWIB, will debut this Friday at 12 p.m. ET on the social media platform X via Major League Baseball’s official account.
New episodes will drop weekly through the 2026 postseason.
MLB is leaning into both nostalgia and innovation with the relaunch. The short-form format will highlight the game’s biggest stars, top plays and trending storylines. At the same time, it will retain signature elements longtime fans associate with the original show.
The series is being developed by MLB Studios and produced in collaboration with MLB Network. League executives view the project as another step in expanding baseball’s reach across digital platforms.
“For a generation of fans, TWIB is etched in their minds and hearts. The music, the highlights, and the positioning of the game’s stars were groundbreaking in many respects,” said Kenny Gersh, MLB Executive Vice President, Media & Business Development. “To this day, fans speak with profound fondness about how the series shaped their connection to the game. So now, after thoughtful development, our goal is to deliver a show that pairs the vibe and signature style of the original franchise with a modernized format designed for today’s younger, social media savvy generation.”
The league recently renewed its partnership with X, making the platform a central distribution point for the series. MLB believes the weekly show will serve as a quick, engaging way for fans to catch up on the sport heading into the weekend.
Mitchell Smith, Global Head of Content Partnerships at X, said the revival blends tradition with modern fan behavior.
“Bringing back ‘This Week in Baseball’ as an X Original bridges the game’s rich history with today’s real-time conversation,” Smith said. “It allows longtime fans to relive the nostalgia while introducing a new generation to the sport.”
Multimedia creator Kait Maniscalco will host the series. Each episode will feature highlights, player profiles, historical callbacks and lighter moments like bloopers. Producers also plan to incorporate classic elements such as TWIB Notes, familiar music cues and stylized slow-motion shots.
The original This Week in Baseball debuted in 1977 and quickly became a staple for fans across the country. Hosted for years by Hall of Fame broadcaster Mel Allen, the program helped shape how audiences consumed baseball highlights. The show ran until 1998 and later returned from 2000 to 2011. During its run, it played a key role in connecting fans to the personalities and moments that defined the sport.
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